Brake for sleds.



UNTTE'D sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

BRAKE FOR SLEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

. Application filed March 20, 1907. Serial 110.363.485-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WICKBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fosston, in the county of Polk and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brakes for Sled or Sleigh Runners, of which the following is a specification.

The resent invention is in the nature of a novel 'orm of'brake which is especially designed for use in connection with sleds and which is peculiarly constructed so as to be automatically thrown into an operative position when a rearward force is exerted upon the draft beam.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable brake of this character which can be readily applied to any of the conventional forms of sleds and which will operate in an eflicient manner to impede the forward movement thereof when a rearward pull is acting upon the draft beam.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for eflecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sled having the brake applied thereto, the said brake being shown in an inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the forward portion of one of the sled runners, an ice engaging prong being shown in full lines as projected and in dotted lines as retracted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line y-y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line ac x of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The invention is shown as applied to a sled comprising the two oppositely disposed runners 1 having the forward ends thereof turned upwardly in the usual manner as indicated at 2, the said runners being connected at an intermediate point by means of the cross beam 3 which serves as a support for the body of the sled. The brake is in the nature of a number of downwardly extending prongs 4 carried by the levers 5 which are pivotally connected at an intermediate point to the runners 1. The arm of each of the levers 5 carrying one of the prongs 4 extends rearwardly along the runner 1 from the pivot I point, whilethe opposite arm is inclined upwardly at an angle to the before mentioned arm and extends beyond the upper edge of the runner. The extremity of th1s upwardly and forwardly extending arm is provided with the downwardly projecting curved extension 6 which is provided with a slot 7 receiving a pin 8 projecting from the runner 1, thereby producing a pin and slot connection which permits the lever 5 to have the limited pivotal movement required for withdrawing the prongs4 into an inoperative position and projecting the same beyond the edges of the runners whereby they are caused to on age with the ice and impede the movement 0 the sled. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a pair of the levers 5 is mounted upon each of the runners 1, being pivotally connected to opposite sides thereof, and the corresponding portions of the upwardly and forwardly extending arms are connected by the sleeves 9. The brake levers applied to the opposite runners 1 are joined by means of a transverse bar 10 provided at its extremities with pins passing through the sleeves 9 and having a pivotal connection therewith. Extending forwardly from the transverse bar 10 is the draft bar 11 which may be either in the nature of a tongue or reach according to the character of sled to which the invention is applied. I

With this construction it will be readily apparent that when a forward pull is exerted upon the draft bar 11 the same operates automatically to hold the prongs 4 in a retracted position. However should a rearward pull be applied to the draft bar the same operates through the transverse bar 10 to move the forwardly extending arms of the levers 5 up wardly and thereby lower the rcarwardly extending arms of the lever to project the prongs 4 beyond the edges of the runners in such. a manner that they engage with the ice and impede the movement of the sled.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A sled brake comprising a lever pivotsled runner, one arm of the lever being provided with means for engaging the ice, while the opposite arm of the lever has a pin'and slot connection with. the runner, and draft means applied to the last mentioned arm of the lever whereby the brake is automatically applied when a rearward force is exerted upon the draft means.

ally connected at an intermediate point to a 2. A sled brake comprising a lever pivotally connected at an intermediate point to a sled runner, one arm of the lever extending rearwardly along the runner and being provided with means for engagingthe ice, While the opposite arm of the lever extends forwardly along the runner and is provided with a downwardly inclined extension having a pin and slot connection with the runner, and draft means applied "to the forwardly extending arm of the lever.

3. A sled brake comprising a lever pivotally connected at an intermediate point to the sled runner, one arm of the lever extending rearwardly along the runner and carrying an ice engaging prong, while the opposite arm is inclined upwardly and forwardly, a downwardly inclined extension carried by the forward arm, the said downwardly inclined extension having a pin and slot connection with the runner, and draft means a plied to the forwardly extending arm of tl e lever.

4. A sled brake comprising a pair of levers applied to opposite sides of each sled runner, the rear arm of each of the levers extending along the sled runner and carrying means for engaging the ice, while the forward end of each of the levers is inclined upwardly, a sleeve connecting the forward ends of the levers applied to each runner, and a draft beam exteinling across the sled and provided at its ends with pins entering the sleeves.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DIX, T. Y. Filmer). 

